The LGF launches Hate Crime Reporting Web-app

Publish Date: 17/05/2014

To mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (The LGF) have launched a new hate crime reporting web-app to encourage people to report hate crime incidents quickly and anonymously, if needed, and to ensure that no hate crime incidents go unreported.

The app was developed by The LGF in response to their recent report which found that half of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people living in Manchester have experienced hate crime, but 62% of them didn’t report it.

The web-app will enable The LGF to help support people throughout the entire procedure of reporting a hate crime to ensure that they feel secure and confident during the process. This could include directing them to other services that may also be able to offer assistance.

Darren Knight, Head of Policy and Engagement at The LGF, said: “With around 215,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB&T) people living in Greater Manchester - which is equivalent to a population the size of Rochdale - when 50% of those people experience a hate crime and 62% of those people don’t report it then something really needs to be done and changes have to be made. We need to make sure hate is challenged, tackled and eradicated.

“Every day we continue to provide advice, information and support to people who are bullied, who have been terrorised, who live in fear or need specific support as a result of the discrimination that they've faced for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. We are trying to do what can, to improve the number of people who come forward, and to make it as easy as possible for people to come forward because we think that every single incident of hate crime should be reported.”

Tony said: "We’re rightly proud that Britain is now an equal country, but of course prejudice still exists. We need to make it as easy as possible for people who have been the victim of a hate crime to report it, and this new web-app designed by The Lesbian and Gay Foundation is an excellent tool to build confidence."

The report, Community Safety: the state of the city for Manchester’s lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities, found that homophobic and biphobic hate crime is a common experience among the LGB community, yet reporting of it is low. Substantial evidence shows that experience of hate crime and an increased fear of becoming a victim of crime has a significantly negative impact on LGB people’s lives.

The LGF will be hosting a Hate Crime Vigil for IDAHOBIT on Saturday 17th May 2014 from 5pm at Sackville Gardens in the Village, Manchester. Also everyone is welcome to join us after the vigil for a complimentary glass of wine at Polari, 28 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ.

Keep up to date with the latest news and events for IDAHOBIT by following @lgfoundation#IDAHOBIT2014 or visiting: lgbt.foundation/IDAHOBIT